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THE ALTERNATIVE VOLUMEPERSPECTIVE 26 ISSUE 40

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December 17, 2015 - December 23, 2015

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Since 1989

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C E L E B R AT I N G HONORED WITH LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS 30

NAACP CELEBRATE S ANNIVERSARY OF Stars News 2015 Annual BThe RBlack ODinner W will Nhonor VMayor . BOARD OF EDUCATION Awards

YEARS!

York and a former chancellor of the New York public schools system.

DerrickDavid Johnson, President CEO The Brown decision demonstrated President Jimmy Carter convened Dinkins, Rep.and Charles Pioneering producers Stephen of the NAACP, the following that the courts are critical guardians hundreds of civil rights leaders at the Rangel,issued Rep. Yvette Clarke, Byrd and Alia Jones, through their statement on the 67th anniversary of of our civil rights. The decision White House to commemorate the R. Donahue Peebles, Barbara company Front Row Production, the Supreme Court's in Brown ruling and announce the nomination Arnwine, Inezruling Barron, Sabrina represents decades of hard-fought rights organization in on theanation.

WeRoof” brought “Cat Hot Tin v. Board of Education: of NAACP General Counsel Nathaniel have over Lamb, Dr. Rudy Crew, Stephen progress on issues of civil rights 2,200 units and branches and “A Streetcar Named Desire” Jones to the U.S. Court of Appeals across the nation, along with well over Byrd, years Alia Jones, the Centraland equal protection. Shockingly, at "Sixty-seven ago, theand Supreme with a multi-ethnic cast to least thirty of Donald Trump's judicial for the Sixth Circuit. As a civil rights 2M activists. Our mission is to secure Park Five survivorsunanimous of gross injustice Court issued its seminal Broadway. In 2016 they bring lawyer, Judge Jones had litigated the political, educational, social, and on December 18 fromin6:00pm – nominees refused to acknowledge ruling outlawing segregation “Eclipsed” Oscar Winner that Brown was correctly decided. numerous school desegregation economic equalitywith of rights in order to 10:00pm at schools.

MIST Harlem, 46 West our nation's public The Lupita Nyong ’O to Broadway.

They now sit on our federal courts all cases, and his nomination on that eliminate race-based discrimination 116th Street. ruling represented a transformative Honorees, the so-called Central affirmation of racial equality “Each honoree chosenand for Park 5, are collectively and became a foundational principle of recognition has demonstrated individually heroes. They are our legal system and our democracy. exceptional leadership and vision in survivors of one of the ugliest We must use this moment to David Dinkins Charles Rangel her orcommitment his respectivetoprofession or reaffirm our equal miscarriage of justice in New York’s endeavor and in some significant educational opportunity.

Decades history; having been railroaded majority.

She now leads The was a member of the New York measure has contributed after the Brown decision, today'stowards and unjustly convicted for a crime Transformative Justice Coalition.

City Council, representing the a morelargely just society in this th public creating schools remain they did not commit and for which Arnwine was for 26 years executive 40 council district in Brooklyn, country,” says Black are Starfive News segregated. Black children they served long prison sentences director of the Lawyers’ Committee succeeding her mother, Una S. founder publisher times as likely asand white children Milton th ranging from seven years to 13 years for Civil Rights Under the Law. T. Clarke. In the current 114 Allimadi. much work to attend schools“Obviously that are highly before being exonerated when the Congress Clarke serves on Inez Barron, honoree, formerly a needs beand done here and segregated byto race ethnicity. actual rapist confessed. They are: the Energy and Commerce State Assembly member, is now the world.”

We callaround upon educators and Yusef Abdus Salaam; Raymond Committee, responsible for a New York City council member policymakers the national, state, The galaatstarts at 6:00pm with a Santana Jr., Antron McCray, Kevin consumer protection, food and a champion of education for and local level hour to reinvigorate effortsby the cocktail to be followed Richardson, and Kharey Wise. safety, energy development, public our youth. to provide all children withceremonies. a quality There dinner and awards health, communications, the The Black Star News, which focuses education. We call upon the U.S. Honoree Imhotep Gary Byrd is will be musical entertainment by environment, and interstate and on investigative journalism, has Department of Justice and civil rights a legendary radio talk show host opera singer Cassandra Douglas international commerce. been featured as a result of some if agencies throughout the country to and executive producer, radio DJ, and from harmonica phenomenon its news scoops, on CNN, The New vigorously enforce the Constitution R. Donahue Peebles, honoree, is poet, songwriter, music recording William Galison.

Dinkins is and our civil rights laws toDavid ensure York Daily News, The New York a leading developer and founder of artist and producer, rapper, writer honored foropportunity.

Lifetime Achievement equal educational The Post, The Village Voice, and Brill’s The Peebles Co., the nation’s largest and community activist. He began was New York City’s first pursuit—ofhe equality in education Content magazine.

African American-owned real his career as a radio DJ in Buffalo African American mayor and also Source: NAACP.com requires constant vigilance; it estate firm with $3.5 billion worth Past Black Star News honorees at age 15. For over 30 years, he’s welcomed Mandela represents one ofNelson our highest ideals to the of properties under development been a talk show host at WBLS and have included: Gil Noble (Like It city cherished after his release and most values.in 1990.

— he was one day demonstrated acrossor themanagement country. president's theMaxine health and well-being Is), Rep. Waters, Soledad WLIB radio the in New York City. Heand ensure Rep. Charles Rangel, also honored of the pioneering developerswho commitment to equal justice.

Today, of all persons.

In media attributions, O’Brien (CNN), Ms. Camille Cosby, also has a Friday night radio talk this occasion to call upon for Lifetime Achievement, has We take helped turn around and revitalize we urgently need lawyers appointed to please refer to us as the NAACP. Voza Rivers (New Heritage Theatre), show on WBAI. Biden to appoint civil rights " N A TinI Congress ON MU S T1971. He President served since is the once-blighted Anacostia the federal courts who have similarly Errol Louis (NY1 News), Amel lawyers — and more specifically, equal Honoree Sabrina Lamb, founderNOTE: The Legal Defense Fund, a recipient ofFThe medal for REAF I RBronze M neighborhood in Washington, D.C. devoted their careers to advancing Larrieux Dr. William educational opportunity lawyers — to also referred to (Entertainer), as the NAACP-LDF, of World ofopportunity Money, isand a champion soldiers C helping O M Msave ITM E N Tbehind T O enemy A champion of African-American equal educational to Pollard (Medgar Evers College), the federal bench. We need judges ofour financial for promise youth-- shewas founded in 1940 as a part of nation literacy realize the economic empowerment Peebles’ helping is E Q Uline A Lduring E D the U CKorean A T I OWar. N A L modeled Herm Edwards (NY Jets), Nayaba after Thurgood Marshall, teaches knowledge about handlingthe NAACP, but separated in 1957 of Brown." contemplating a possible run for NYC O P PYvette O R T Clarke U N I TisYa"Democratic Rep. Arinde (Amsterdam News), La-Verna Constance Baker Motley and Robert money, budgeting and planning. to become a completely separate mayor in 2017. member of the US House of (Columbia Carter, who litigated ground-breaking Founded in 1909 in response to the entity. Fountain It is recognized as theUniversity), Dr. Rudy Crew, honoree, is one of Representatives from New Lillian Roberts (DC37), Desiree Dancy equal education cases before being ongoing violence against Black people nation's first civil and human rights Honoree Barbara Arnwine, civil th - Dwhose e r r i c k9Joh n son covers the nation’s leading educators.

He’s York district appointed to the judiciary. around the country, the NAACP is the law organization, and shares our (New York Times), Greg Floyd (Local rights lawyer, is a champion of p r emuch side ntofa nd CEO o Brooklyn. f t h e N A ACP largest and most pre-eminent civil commitment to equal rights. central Before On theprotecting 237), Rev. Al Sharpton (National president of Medgar Evers College voting rights of ethnic 25th anniversary of Brown, entering Congress in 2007, she Action Network), and many others. of The City University of New minority groups — the emerging

INSIDE T HIS ISSUE: IS SUE : INSIDE THIS

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PAGE 9 DAY OF ENLIGHTENMENT

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NE WS WELLS FARGO L AUN CH E S IN T IAT IVE Wells Fargo has announced the Banking Inclusion Initiative, a 10-year commitment to help unbanked individuals gain access to affordable, mainstream, digitally-enabled transactional accounts – a meaningful entry point to fully participating in the economy and achieving financial stability. The initiative will focus on reaching unbanked communities and, in particular, helping remove barriers to financial inclusion for Black and African American, Hispanic, and Native American/Alaska Native families, which account for more than half of America’s 7 million unbanked households. It also will assist those who are underbanked or underserved – individuals who may have a bank account yet continue to use high cost, non-bank services and have similar needs.

Wells Fargo will bring together multiple national and community stakeholders to roll out the broad-based initiative that is designed to increase access to affordable products, digital banking and financial guidance within unbanked communities.

Through this initiative, Wells Fargo also will collaborate with partners to explore solutions to the credit challenges facing unbanked individuals. This year, the bank will work with partners to set and begin measuring a 10year goal for reducing the number of people who are unbanked, with milestones along the way.

According to 2019 FDIC data, 12.2 percent of Hispanic households, 13.8 percent of Black households, and 16.3 percent of American Indian/Alaska Native households in the U.S. don’t have access to a mainstream checking account – compared with 2.5 percent of White and 1.7 percent of Asian households. The FDIC also reports that while these figures have been trending downward, the number of unbanked households will likely increase in the aftermath of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

“We recognize the high number of unbanked households is a complex and long-standing issue that will require gathering the best minds, ideas, products and educational resources from across our communities to bring about change,” said CEO Charlie Scharf. “Through our Initiative, we will organize our resources under one umbrella and work with a broad and diverse group of stakeholders on a sustained multi-year effort to accelerate financial inclusion in the U.S.” The commitment will be organized around three areas: 1  Access to Affordable Products and Digital Solutions  Wells Fargo will deepen its existing relationships with Black-owned Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs) to support their work in the communities they serve, including outreach efforts and providing the option for their customers to withdraw cash from Wells Fargo’s ATMs and incur no Wells Fargo fees. In addition, Wells Fargo is offering access to a dedicated relationship team that will work with each MDI on financial, technological and product development strategies to help strengthen and grow their institutions.  In recognition that unbanked and underbanked individuals need access to short-term credit, Wells Fargo will increase funding and support to expand the Credit Builders Alliance (CBA) low-cost, creditbuilding consumer loan program. The organization’s CBA Fund will provide patient loan capital, capacity-building grants and technical assistance to their nonprofit lender

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members, enabling low-cost consumer loans for low- to moderate-income (LMI) individuals to meet short term cash needs and establish or improve their credit scores.  Wells Fargo will increase awareness and outreach about low-cost, no overdraft fee accounts, such as Wells Fargo’s Bank On-certified Clear Access Banking. Wells Fargo introduced Clear Access Banking in 2020, offering an affordable account designed for those who are new to banking or have encountered past challenges opening or keeping a bank account. The account is certified by the Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) Fund for meeting Bank On National Account Standards for safe and appropriate financial products to help people enter or re-enter the mainstream financial system, and it gives full access to Wells Fargo’s mobile app, and nationwide branch and ATM network.  Wells Fargo will broaden its collaboration

TO

ALLOW EASIER AC CE SS

TO

LOANS

through financial empowerment,” said John Hope Bryant, Chairman and CEO, Operation HOPE, Inc. “Supporting this game changing, transformational work at Operation HOPE will support underserved communities in very meaningful ways. For me, important partnerships such as this represent a new era of necessary corporate and private sector leadership in America, focused on sustainable uplift, or social justice through an economic lens.”  Wells Fargo is working with the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Community Development Action Coalition to launch Our Money Matters, a comprehensive financial wellness initiative for college students of color, who disproportionally face greater financial challenges and college debt. The initiative aims to equip students with much needed financial capability skills and access to support services. Over the next 3 years,

Urban League, and Mississippi-based Hope Enterprise Corporation.

the program will expand to 25 HBCUs and Minority Serving Institutions.  With more than 25 percent of its branches in LMI community census tracts, Wells Fargo will introduce a new program within LMI neighborhood branches that will be designed around the needs of the diverse communities it serves. The branches will feature redesigned spaces created to deliver one-on-one consultations, improve digital access and offer financial health seminars, and through these efforts, will help build trust. Wells Fargo will select a set of pilot locations to introduce the program, with a plan to expand to 100 LMI neighborhood branches with a high concentration of unbanked individuals.

3  Launching National Advisory Task Force  Recognizing the difficulty of addressing the unbanked issue in the U.S., Wells Fargo will establish and lead a broad coalition to help with this multi-year commitment.

Wells Fargo is forming a National Unbanked Advisory Task Force that will work with the bank in developing solutions to bring more people into the banking system from underserved communities, while also providing feedback on the initiatives that will be implemented and helping determine the best ways to measure success. The task force will feature representatives from leading organizations, including LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens), NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), National Bankers Association, NCAI (National Congress of American Indians), UnidosUS, National

of their families. The Banking Inclusion Initiative is a necessary step to ensuring that our communities have access to fully participate in developing economic and financial stability. We are excited about what untapped possibilities can be birthed for the future of these individuals, their families, and their communities.”

“There is a need to develop creative ideas and solutions and to do things differently to serve the needs of tribal governments and Native American households that are unbanked. I look forward to actions that are focused on reaching unbanked communities and to removing barriers to financial inclusion and economic advancement,” said Danté Desiderio, CEO, National Congress of American Indians.

“The NAACP is pleased to partner with Wells Fargo in support of their commitment to helping more communities of color gain access to affordable banking services,” said Derrick Johnson, President & CEO, NAACP. “We know that millions within communities of color operate in unbanked households, limiting their ability to truly take advantage of opportunities on behalf

Photo Credit: Business Wire

with CFE Fund and local Bank On coalitions to pilot new strategies and approaches that help overcome barriers to banking access in several markets with high concentrations of unbanked households. The program will focus on helping those who are unbanked navigate the financial system, develop an easier, more seamless path for them to open a Bank On-certified account and access services they need within mainstream banking. It will be used to identify best practices that can be applied on a national scale.  Wells Fargo will work closely with Fintechs that are deeply committed to helping underserved communities. For instance, Wells Fargo is among the investors in Greenwood, a digital platform for Black and Latino individuals and business owners.

The bank also has started a collaboration to help the Fintech MoCaFi provide banking to unbanked individuals, starting with offering MoCaFi customers the ability to use their MoCaFi debit card at Wells Fargo ATMs without incurring fees from Wells Fargo.

2  Financial Education and Advice  Teaming with Operation HOPE, Wells Fargo will support the launch of HOPE Inside centers within diverse and LMI neighborhoods, which is designed to foster inclusion through financial education workshops and free one-on-one coaching to help community members take control of their finances and build their credit scores.

“I applaud Wells Fargo for joining forces with us to deliver our best-in-class HOPE Inside work in markets across the country that will strengthen more communities

May 20, 2021 - May 26, 2021

“Access to low-cost financial services is an ongoing challenge that has grown even more important during the pandemic and we commend Wells Fargo for taking the lead forming the National Unbanked Advisory Task Force, a significant action to leverage the expertise and insights of leaders across our diverse communities,” said Janet Murguia, CEO, UnidosUS. “This strong coalition of Latino, Black, and Indigenous organizations will offer valuable advice and guidance to Wells Fargo in reducing the number of unbanked people in the communities we serve, and helping even more people on the path to achieve financial stability and security for their families.”

“With branches in more communities than any other financial institution, we believe we have a responsibility to do even more to help address this issue and the pandemic has increased the urgency,” said Mary Mack, CEO of Consumer and Small Business Banking at Wells Fargo. “It is why we’re launching this comprehensive initiative. It is our hope, working closely with our partners, we will be able to make a difference over time in addressing such a critical problem for our society.”

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NEWS

NISSAN DONATE S TO SEVEN MISSISSIPPI HBCU’S

Nissan is again making a donation to Mississippi’s seven Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to support science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programming at each school.

“Students pursuing STEM-related degrees have a broad range of career opportunities,” said Keri Kelly, Director, Diversity & Inclusion, Nissan Americas. “Mississippi’s seven HBCUs are preparing the change makers of tomorrow to take on the STEM roles that will undoubtedly change lives for the better. Nissan is thrilled to lend support to further develop and strengthen these programs.”

With this contribution, Nissan has invested nearly $1.5 million in Mississippi’s HBCUs since opening its Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant in 2003.

The Canton plant produces the Nissan

Altima, Frontier, TITAN and NV van.

The seven HBCUs receiving a donation from Nissan are Alcorn State University, Coahoma Community College, Hinds Community College - Utica Campus, Jackson State University, Mississippi Valley State University, Rust College and Tougaloo College.

for the challenges of engineering and manufacturing award-winning Nissan cars and trucks. We’re proud to support Mississippi’s HBCUs in their continued efforts to deliver quality STEM programming to students across our great state.”

Nissan recognized each of these HBCUs during a virtual event where several current Nissan employees, who are themselves Mississippi HBCU alums, shared what their education has meant to their career growth at Nissan.

“Our business has undoubtedly prospered thanks to the efforts of the HBCU graduates who have come to work for us,” said Tim Fallon, Vice President, Manufacturing, Nissan Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant.

“HBCU graduates are well prepared

BL ACK WOMEN’S EXPO Returns In-Person

With the pandemic causing the cancellation of last year’s Black Women’s Expo (BWE), founder and organizer Merry Green made wise use of her time to transform and expand the scope of the country’s largest exposition for Black Women. Slated for August 20-22, 2021 at McCormick Place, the event will also feature a virtual expo the following weekend.

“After my initial disappointment, I had to move forward and see the cancellation of the event as an opportunity for growth and repositioning, not just for us but for our small business vendors,” said Green who has produced the 3-day affair for 25 years. “The addition of virtual access will give small businesses everywhere an opportunity to get their

C L E R GY T E S T I F Y

ON

More than five dozen clergy members spanning 15 New Jersey counties filed a brief at the New Jersey Supreme Court, represented by the ACLU-NJ, that urges justices to take bold action to end racial profiling.

The brief (PDF), filed on behalf of 66 New Jersey ministers, imams, rabbis, and other leaders of a range of faith

brands in front of thousands of African American consumers.”

Traditional elements of the Expo will remain including live performances and panel discussions. Many of the activities

TRAUMA

OF

This brief stands as a powerful testament to a truth that is often missing in legal cases and analysis concerning the subject, which typically

Virtual Experiences

will be recorded and broadcast during the virtual component on August 28th-

29th added Green.

Registration for exhibitors kicks off May 1st and will offer those who act quickly

RACIAL PROFILING

traditions, draws on the collective accounts of the trauma, humiliation, and dehumanization racial profiling regularly inflicts on their Black and brown members of their communities.

and

iN

centers around improper searches in criminal cases: the vast majority of racial profiling goes unnoted because it does not result in any charges, leaving its ineffectiveness and mass trauma unseen.

“While courts typically learn abo ut allegations of racial profiling in the context of the rare police actions that yield evidence of criminal behavior, clergy people see the daily trauma of racial profiling, which unfairly casts the shadow of suspicion based solely on race without leading to any arrest,” said ACLU-NJ Director of Supreme Court Advocacy Alexander Shalom.

“Clergy serve as daily witnesses to the reality that racial profiling does not simply hurt individuals – it injures entire communities.”

May 20, 2021 - May 26, 2021

a 50% discount through May 7th.

“I wanted to show my appreciation to those who have patiently waited for us to make strategic decisions on how we would move forward in these uncertain times,” said Green. “The good news is that the majority of last year’s vendors didn’t pull out, and now we’re inviting others to capitalize on the introductory rates.”

Booth costs for the Black Women’s Expo range from $1500 to $1900. With the introductory special, spaces will run $750 - $950 during the first week of May. Special discounted rates will also be available for non-profit organizations.

Full details for in-person and virtual opportunities are available at BWeNEXT. com.

LOCAL COMMUNITIES

The case before the Court concerns an incident in which police officers pulled over three Black men based on a description of two Black men as

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For more information about our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit nissanusa. com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn and see all our latest videos on YouTube.

suspects of a robbery, along with the police officer’s claim that the three men did not visibly react to a spotlight pointed in their direction. The brief asks the Court to bar police officers from conducting stops where the only, or predominant, basis is that the people stopped match the race and gender of the suspects, without any other additional identifying details.

“The clergy members we represent provide pastoral care in and to diverse communities throughout New Jersey, and they share a common experience: Each one has served members of their communities who have been stopped by police because of their race,” said ACLU-NJ Legal Director Jeanne LoCicero. “The clergy members in this suit have seen the trauma of people close to them after unjustified stops based on their race, and they have counseled people through the fear and psychological wounds that follow them from those encounters.”

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N AT ION AL COVI D - 19

AND THE

 BY JANE M. ORIEN T, M .D .

Politicians’ favorite line seems to be: “It’s for our children and grandchildren.”

But what if we don’t have any?

People are still concerned about Paul Ehrlich’s “Population Bomb,” but apparently haven’t noticed that we are closing schools while building old people’s homes, where many staff members are immigrants and many residents have no one to visit them.

Most of the world, except for Africa, has below replacement-level fertility. Soon, children whose mother tongue is Italian, French, or German may be the minority in their parents’ land. Even with immigration, the U.S. has fallen below replacement level.

For powerful global elites, this is cause for celebration. Prince Phillip once said that he would like to be reincarnated as a deadly virus as revenge against humanity’s overpopulation and destruction of nature.

The COVID-19 virus arrived before his death, but the world’s response could achieve the desired depopulation.

Before COVID-19, the most hyped “existential” threat was climate change. Movements like the Extinction Rebellion preach doom unless we drastically change our lifestyle. The effect was disappointing. Some vow not to have children, to protect our future, but they could change their minds. And people weren’t scared enough to give up conveniences like flying, or to create poverty and hunger by shutting down the industrial economy.

Then along came the spikey virus—one graphic shows the Death Star from Star Wars festooned with spikes. In dread of coronadoom, people have meekly complied with drastic curtailments of their liberties and economic constraints guaranteeing the destruction of businesses not protected by government. Rules supposed to last 14 days are extended repeatedly, with constantly moving goalposts. The climate alarmists don’t want things to ever go back to normal.

“Protect the vulnerable!” say signers of the Great Barrington Declaration, and let the rest of society work and live. Unlike

C HIL D R EN

other disasters that wiped out human populations—war, famine, civil discord, and most serious epidemics, COVID-19 attacks primarily the elderly and infirm. It was logical to vaccinate the elderly first.

Some died, and some had serious side effects. The experts point out that someone who died after the COVID jab possibly died of something else (the timing was just coincidental) or might have died later of COVID-19. “The benefits exceed the risk,” they say.

But the vaccinations don’t stop with highrisk persons. Multibillionaire oligarchs and “philanthropists”—most prominently the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation—want to vaccinate everybody in the world. Or maybe just everybody else. Climate change diva Greta Thunberg has just announced that the Greta Thunberg Foundation will donate 100,000 euros to “vaccine equity.”

When those dedicated to reducing humanity’s “footprint” on the planet suddenly switch to universal vaccination, should some caution lights flash?

They are coming for the children. First with experiments—although minors cannot give informed consent. Likely then with warpspeed mandates that are illegal for notyet-FDA-approved products given under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Why? Does COVID-19 kill children? Almost never. Do children infect Grandma? Almost never. Does the vaccine keep you from transmitting disease? Possibly—but keep wearing that mask.

Pregnant women were excluded from early trials but are getting the jab anyway.

Some, who were hoping to give their baby antibodies, miscarried or had a stillbirth.

Agencies will investigate, and surely come up with statistics on “extreme rarity,” but let’s see independent forensic pathology on the placentas and dead babies.

The “abundance of caution” CDC has paused the J&J vaccine after six young women developed rare blood clots (cerebral sinus thrombosis), although it’s only one in a million, they say. The European Medicines Agency briefly paused the similar AstraZeneca vaccine, meant to be the “workhorse of Covax,” after 18 deaths

Photo Credit: Muthengi Mbuvi via Unsplash

from clots. It admits to adverse events in 1 in 100,000. Now some countries allow its use only in older persons. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, according to the Vaccine Adverse Reporting System (VAERS), have also been linked to clotting and hemorrhage problems. Thousands of deaths from this and other causes, in healthy persons of reproductive age, have been reported—but are still “rare” and possibly coincidental.

It is too soon to know of late effects. First, will there be “pathogenic priming, like with vaccines for the related SARS-CoV-1 virus?

The animals made antibodies and looked fine until exposed to the wild virus. Then the immune system overreaction killed them.

Human use was stopped. For SARS-CoV2, animal trials were skipped.

Concerns about effects on fertility have sparked many reports stating that “there is no evidence” that vaccines cause infertility—ask Google. And where is evidence that they don’t? Animal trials were skipped.

We’ll see what happens when today’s fully vaccinated youth and children try to have babies. Prince Phillip may get his wish.

Jane M. Orient, M.D. obtained her undergraduate degrees in chemistry and mathematics from the University of Arizona in Tucson, and her M.D. from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1974. She completed an internal medicine residency at Parkland

Memorial Hospital and University of Arizona Affiliated Hospitals and then became an Instructor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and a staff physician at the Tucson Veterans Administration Hospital. She has been in solo private practice since 1981 and has served as Executive Director of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) since 1989.

She is currently president of Doctors for Disaster Preparedness. She is the author of YOUR Doctor Is Not In: Healthy Skepticism about National Healthcare, and the second through fifth editions of Sapira's Art and Science of Bedside Diagnosis published

by Wolters Kluwer. She authored books for schoolchildren, Professor Klugimkopf's Old-Fashioned English Grammar and Professor Klugimkopf's Spelling Method, published by Robinson Books, and coauthored two novels published as Kindle books, Neomorts and Moonshine. More than 100 of her papers have been published in the scientific and popular literature on a variety of subjects including risk assessment, natural and technological hazards and nonhazards, and medical economics and ethics. She is the editor of AAPS News, the Doctors for Disaster Preparedness Newsletter, and Civil Defense Perspectives, and is the managing editor of the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons.

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S N O O P D O GG a n d M I C H A E L H A R R I S H o n o r e d “ V i r t u a l Sa lu t e to B l ac k M u s i c ”

Rap/Hi-Hop Music icon & Philanthropist, Calvin “Snoop Dogg” Broadus and Businessman/Philanthropist Michael Harris are this year’s honorees for the Black Business Association (BBA),“Virtual Salute to Black Music Awards” on Thursday, June 24, 2020 at 5:30 - 7 PM. The BBA is the oldest ethnic business organization in the State of California and will host its Annual event held in recognition of Black Music Appreciation Month.

The BBA is excited to announce it will honor Calvin “Snoop Dogg” Broadus, with the “Lifetime Legacy Award,” and Michael Harris, with the “Business Pioneer Legends Award.” We will also honor Nipsey Hussle posthumously the “Distinguished Business Advocate Award.”

In keeping with the event theme, “The Business behind the Music,” the BBA recognizes the honorees for their contributions of these esteemed honorees in the advancement of African-Americans in the music Industry. Now, more than ever the BBA recognizes that in light of the current Black Lives Matter Movement; there is an even greater imperative, to acknowledge those that help to propel Black Lives into success. Among past Honorees are; Clarence Avant, Berry Gordy, Dick Griffey, Smokey Robinson, Siedah Garrett, Janet Jackson, and Jheryl Busby to name a few.

Snoop Dogg is a rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, media personality, entrepreneur, and actor. His music career began in 1992 when he was discovered by Dr. Dre and

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featured on Dre’s solo debut, “Deep Cover” and then on Dre’s solo debut album, The Chronic. He has since sold over 23 million albums in the United States and 35 million albums worldwide.

Snoop’s debut album, “Doggystyle,” produced by Dr. Dre, was released in 1993 by Death Row Records. Bolstered by excitement driven by Snoop’s featuring on The Chronic, the album debuted at number one on both the Billboard 200 and Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. Doggystyle became certified quadruple platinum in 1994 and spawned several hit singles, including “What My Name?” and “Gin & Juice.” Snoop has 17 Grammy nominations and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Snoop Dogg has starred in motion pictures and hosted several television shows. He also coaches a youth football league and high school football team, and always gives back to his community.

Born in California and raised in Louisiana, Mr. Harris has always been known for his entrepreneurial spirit. He created Godfather Entertainment, the parent company of Death Row Records and Keeping the Dream Alive Productions that produced the award-winning documentary Welcome to Death Row while being incarcerated.

In the entertainment sector, he founded Y-Not Productions, producer of the play Checkmates, starring Denzel Washington which went on to play on Broadway and Stepping Into Tomorrow, which paired

Martin Luther King, Jr.’s daughter Yolanda King and Malcom X’s daughter Attallah Shabazz. In 2021, President Donald Trump selected Mr. Harris as one of his official pardons. Since his celebrated release, Mr. Harris has not missed a beat in continuing his work to help his fellow citizens through

the creation of various businesses and philanthropic organizations.

About Nipsey Hussle Ermias “Nipsey Hussle” Davidson Asghedom was an Eritrean-American rapper and businessman from Los Angeles, California. He released several mixtapes,

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including three installments of his Bullets Ain’t Got No Name series, The Marathon, The Marathon Continues and Crenshaw, the latter of which rapper Jay-Z, bought 100 copies for $100 each. His ventures spanned from his music label and The Marathon Clothing store, to his Marathon Agency, a talent and marketing company, and his Proud 2 Pay campaign, a trailblazing means to distribute his music. Nipsey was more movement than music as was evident in the tributes that poured in from fans, hundreds of whom flocked to The Marathon Clothing store after he was shot, and from celebrities who noted that his legacy would be a layered one. They encouraged his fans to keep that legacy alive. His debut studio album “Victory Lap” was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards in 2019.

Celebrating 50 Years of service, the Black Business Association (BBA), was founded in 1970. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the oldest active ethnic business organization in the State of California, has been committed to ensuring that African Americans and other diverse business owners benefit from BBA advocacy, efforts to impact, improve, and implement policy, that improves access to contracting and procurement opportunities with the public and private sector, in addition to providing access to financial resources. The BBA is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization.  www.BBALA.org  https://www.facebook.com/ BlackBusinessAssociation

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EDUCAT ION

p r o f i l e : FAMU Law’s 2021 Graduate DEVIN YOUNG

D E V I N Y O U N G is super excited about graduating from the Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Law this month. The New Brunswick, New Jersey native already has a job lined up in the legal field and is preparing to study for the Florida Bar Exam.

While graduating from law school is a major accomplishment, it is rare to matriculate through law school while playing professional sports. Young was studying the law, and in his limited spare time, also studied the football playbook for Team American, Global Games International Football League.

“I’ve played internationally the entire time I have attended FAMU College of Law. I played in Cancun, Costa Rica, Toronto, Miami and Kissimmee,” said Young. “My hard work on the football field paid off when I was awarded three defensive Most Valuable Player trophies for games in Miami, Orlando and Costa Rica.” Young says the awards were presented by owner Mike McQuartey and Head Coach Jim Collins.

While football is challenging and requires training, Young did not miss a beat when it came to preparing for a legal career.

He explored several experiential learning opportunities prior to and during law school.

“I have significant pre-law school experience with the State of New Jersey’s Office of Legislative Services. I am a public servant at heart. I developed my desire to serve the public when I worked for Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District.”

During law school, Young gained legal experience with the Office of the State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. He also interned at Skyers Law with FAMU Law alumnae Karen Skyers.

Young recently accepted a position with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit as an assistant state attorney under State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.

Young has played football since the age of seven years.

When comparing his love for football and the law, Young gives the edge to law because the laws and freedoms of this country allow him to play football. With his J.D. in one hand and a football in the other, Young plans to fight as a Rattler for Justice in the courtroom and possibly keep up the defensive fight as well on the football field.

Young is a proud member of FAMU Law’s graduating class of 2021.

Source: blackprwire.com

B L A C K E D U C AT O R S J O I N S F O R C E S For more than 100 years, teaching has run through Hillary-Rhys Richard’s family.

Growing up in Katy, Texas, Rhys, as he’s known to his friends, listened to his mother, Astrya Richard, tell stories of her ancestors — four generations of educators who saw teaching as a calling, and learning as a tool for change.

By the end of high school, Rhys had never had a Black male teacher, and that absence, along with his family’s deep connection to education, helped steer him to follow in their footsteps.

This week, Rhys, 18, will complete his freshman year remotely as part of the inaugural class of the African American Male Teacher Initiative at Huston-Tillotson University. The first-of-its-kind program was created in partnership with Apple as part of the company’s ongoing and deep commitment to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Apple’s multiyear partnership with HustonTillotson complements other engagements the company has established through its Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, working alongside the HBCU community to develop curricula and provide new learning and workforce opportunities.

At Huston-Tillotson, Apple is providing scholarships for the program’s students, called Pre-Ed Scholars, as well as hardware, software, and professional-development courses for students and faculty.

“Every student should have the chance to be taught by someone who represents them,” Rhys wrote in his application essay to Huston-Tillotson. “In order to build strong children, we need strong male teachers to forge a path through being the example for students. The baton has to be passed for us to continue pushing forward. I stand ready to run my leg of the race.”

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Currently, only 2 percent of all US teachers are Black men, something the program at Huston-Tillotson seeks to change. When Black students are taught by a Black teacher, they are significantly more likely to graduate high school and consider attending college.

Huston-Tillotson President Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette has witnessed the power of that relationship firsthand. Her son had a Black male teacher in the fifth grade, and it transformed his education.

“It just really did something magical for him,” says Dr. Burnette. “So this is personal for me because of my own experience raising an African American male. It’s my mission to be able to get these young Black men in classrooms, so they can pour into other vessels like themselves because they have shared experiences. And there’s nothing like being taught by someone who has a shared experience.”

It’s the reason Dr. Burnette prioritized the creation of the African American Male Teacher Initiative, and sought out a partner in Apple. “There’s an African proverb: ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,’” says Dr. Burnette.

“So to have a partner like Apple that is best in class for innovation and its commitment to excellence — it’s a natural match. We’re investing in a mission with education as the great equalizer and giving people opportunities to be the best they can be.”

When Rhys graduates from the program, he’s going to teach music. He currently plays four instruments, including the tuba, which is his favorite. His freshman music classes are taught by Dr. Samuel Rowley, who is Rhys’s first Black male teacher.

“He’s very positive,” says Rhys. “And he’s a perfectionist with his work, which is sort of like me. So I see myself in him.”

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Dr. Rowley’s life was also changed by his first Black male teacher, his high school band director. “He left a tremendous impact,” says Dr. Rowley. “We all wanted to be music teachers just like him.” Dr. Rowley uses Clips and GarageBand on iPad in his music classes, which are all taught remotely because of the pandemic.

“If it would not have been for Apple products, I would not have been able to connect with my students all around the country,” says Dr. Rowley, who is a recognized Apple Teacher after completing professional learning courses offered through the free online Apple Teacher Learning Center. He’s guiding Rhys and his fellow Pre-Ed Scholars through the courses as well, so they will also be recognized Apple Teachers when they graduate. “I’m really excited about learning more about Apple technology with the Apple Teacher

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APPLE program,” says Rhys. “Especially now that I’ve been introduced to GarageBand, I want to learn more about how I can incorporate it into my classes when I’m a teacher.”

That passion for sharing knowledge is something that Rhys’s mother has seen for many years. “The way he loves music, it will make anyone love music,” says Astrya, an assistant principal who taught for many years. “And I just picture him having that type of impact on kids. I think he’s going to be an outstanding educator.”

Rhys’s application essay to Huston-Tillotson closed with a commitment to the generations of students he will undoubtedly go on to inspire. “I look forward to creating a place of open learning where ideas are exchanged and experiences are shared,” wrote Rhys.

“I want to be the teacher I never had, the teacher every student deserves. And it all begins here.”

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HE ALTH N Y C H E A LT H + H O S P I TA L S L A U N C H E S “ M E D I C A L E R A C I S M ” N YC H ealth + Hospital s today announced the launch of its “Medical Eracism” initiative to eliminate biased, race-based assessments used for decades in hospitals and clinics across the country to influence medical decisions that have been found to negatively impact the quality of care patients of color receive. The public health care system announced it has already eliminated two common diagnostic tests – for kidney disease and vaginal birth after a cesarean delivery (VBAC) – that have embedded race-based calculations for severity of illness and risk, and can lead to implicit biases and errors in diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Eric Wei. “Calculating medical conditions can be a matter of life or death in most cases. By eliminating some simple biological tests, we are helping to eliminate an element of systemic racism in medicine and sending our communities a message of how seriously we take the health

“Race is not a biological determinant, but a social construct. These calculations were based on racialized assumptions about biology that date back to slavery and the belief that somehow the bodies of African descendants where different from others,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Chief Medical Officer Machelle Allen, MD. “We also acknowledge that race matters in people’s health and remain cognizant of the impact of racism and social inequities affecting the health of New Yorkers under our care.”

Photo Source: NYC Health + Hospitals

The “Medical Eracism” project, led by the NYC Health + Hospitals Office of Quality & Safety and the Equity & Access Council, will identify additional areas of race-based assessments to recommend for elimination. This initiative builds on the health system’s commitment to eliminate implicit bias in health care and provide equitable, quality care to more than one million New Yorkers who choose NYC Health + Hospitals as their medical home.

“We have a critical investment in the health of all of the communities and populations we serve,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Senior Vice President and Chief Quality Officer

and wellbeing of all of our patients.”

 E l i m i n at i n g R a c e a s P r o x y for Kidney Function Through a partnership with NYC Health + Hospitals Nephrology Workgroup and Laboratory Council, the public health system will eliminate the use of race as a proxy to calculate kidney function. This proxy is known as glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Historically, the eGFR is adjusted up for African-Americans and categorizes all patients into “Black” and “nonBlack.” This practice downplays the severity of illness in Black patients potentially reducing access to more aggressive treatment that can save

their life, including as a result of delayed referrals for treatment, disqualification for transplants, and misguided treatment and counseling.

of labor for a vaginal delivery after an earlier C-section in a prior pregnancy.

Formulated in 2007, the VBAC calculation includes risk factors, such as age, body mass index (BMI), and clinical history of delivery, along with whether the patient is of Black race or Hispanic ethnicity.

levels (a chemical waste product in the blood), age, and sex for all patients. Elimination of this formula will improve the quality of care for patients with renal disease and prevent delays in care.

Blacks and Hispanics are three-times and 1.5-times higher risk, respectively, of developing kidney failure than white Americans. Black women remain three-to-four-times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women in America.

Instead, NYC Health + Hospitals will now use renal function eGFR calculations solely based on creatinine

 E l i m i n at i n g R a c e t o C a l c u l at e R i s k f o r S a f e Vag i n a l D e l iv e ry a f t e r C-Section NYC Health + Hospitals, through the health system’s Women’s Health Council, is also eliminating the clinical risk calculation for Vaginal Birth After Cesarean-section (VBAC). It is used to estimate the risk and likely success

With the launch of the “Medical Eracism” initiative, NYC Health + Hospitals leads the way in hospitals and health systems in New York City and across the country that have already eliminated the race-based calculation to assess and measure kidney function in patients and VBAC.

HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS SPEAK WITH PATIENTS ABOUT COVID-19 VACCINE The Commissioner of Health today issued a letter to clinicians and healers reminding them talk to their patients about getting vaccinated and answer questions about the vaccine. The letter is also running in newspapers in both English and Spanish. Advertisements are also running online.

“Nurses, pharmacists, therapists, doulas, doctors, and other clinicians and healers are trusted community voices—and have a vital role in the effort to vaccinate New Yorkers,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi. “Our strong recommendation is a critical factor in whether a patient will get vaccinated against COVID-19. Together we can save lives and prevent further suffering.”

“The voices of clinicians and healers will be transformative during this critical phase of our vaccine campaign.”

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said Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse. “As we push forward with our equity goals, we at the Health Department are honored to support clinicians and healers as they support New Yorkers in making the decision to get vaccinated.”

“The voices of clinicians and healers will be transformative during this critical phase of our vaccine campaign.”

more, including tools to have these conversations, please visit nyc.gov/ VaccineTalks.

Providers can now also help their patients get an appointment, Health providers can call 877-VAX-4-NYC and press 2 to be directed to an operator who will help book

an appointment for patients on the spot.

All New Yorkers 16 and older are now eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine. New Yorkers can make a vaccine appointment at vaccinefinder.nyc.gov, call 877-VAX-4NYC or walk in at any City-run site and get vaccinated.

 Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse The letter will go to tens of thousands of providers serving New Yorkers. The City will promote the need for these important conversations with a digital ad campaign targeting providers, webinars and partnerships with professional associations.

Providers who want to find out

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E VENT S G E O R G E F L OY D D AY The George Floyd Memorial Center (GFMC) announces it is declaring May 25th as the annual Day of Enlightenment (5/25 D.O.E.).

Why? Because on May 25, 2020 the world watched an act of terror for 9 minutes and 29 seconds. What followed were months of protests in more than 60 countries across the world. In the midst of a global pandemic, millions of people from all backgrounds gathered to raise their collective voices to say enough is enough.

What resulted was an awakening of minds to police brutality towards and against marginalized communities, especially the Black community. Nine minutes and 29 seconds enlightened the world to the plight of Black Americans as well as other marginalized communities across the world. Voices were finally heard, and according to the GFMC, these voices will no longer be silenced or ignored.

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ENLIGHTENMENT PLANNED

on social media using #525DOE and #GeorgeFloydMC. The 5/25 D.O.E. items can be purchased at www.cafepress.com/ georgefloydmcstore in an effort to support this and other initiatives created by the Floyd family to honor George’s life and legacy.

“The goal is to get people thinking about what was changed inside of them on 5/25 as they reflect on their day of enlightenment,” said Frederick Huff, Program Director, GFMC. “The proceeds from the sale of these items will support some, but not all of what our vision is to provide town by town support. We’re also

Photo Credit: Mathias Bishop

), Director, George Floyd Memorial Center (GFMC (l-r) Staff and family, Frederick Huff, Program after ate celebr Floyd n Mario and urin, Allen-McLa Christina Huff, Joyce Floyd, Wendell Floyd, Lisa about nt in honor of George Floyd. They shared more the announcement of 5/25DayOfEnlightenme funds for the raise to -andise merch DOE 5/25 the of se the vision for the Center and the purpo ive from pain to progress, and from hate to hope.

Center and to visually show unity for a new narrat #525DOE #GeorgeFloydMC

"George's death, after his life was taken so inhumanely by a rogue police officer, will not be in vain,” said Roger Floyd, Chief Impact Officer for the GFMC, and George Floyd Jr.’s paternal uncle, known affectionately as Uncle Roger. “We will continue to unapologetically move the needle forward for real change, and we want everyone in communities all over the country and world to join us."

IT careers in our ever-growing technologydependent world. Ultimately the plan is to work with staffing agencies to assist residents in finding productive and rewarding careers that will allow them to provide for their families and contribute to the local community and economy.

The GFMC’s 5/25 D.O.E. grassroots initiative is designed to engage the world by recognizing a day of enlightenment verses a day of anger and pain. The GFMC wants to change the narrative from hurt to hope.

Although the tragedy of how George Floyd Jr.’s life was taken woke the world up, the GFMC wants to change the tragedy and make it triumphant for societies around the country.

seeking significant corporate support to bring the vision and lasting dream to life that helps close the digital and employment divide in marginalized communities.”

In an effort to engage individuals and communities and raise awareness and resources for current and future GFMC programming, the 501(c3) organization will sell the specially designed 5/25 D.O.E. paraphernalia/items to people in the U.S. and around the world, encouraging them to post pictures of themselves

The George Floyd Memorial Center has plans to adopt smaller towns and communities within the United States and provide technical training for students who are often overlooked and underserved.

Through dedicated programming, they intend to equip the students with IT, cybersecurity training and certificates to prepare them for

“It’s not just about blue collar jobs, it’s about new collar jobs, and we know where there is an economic base, there is more respect and power,” Huff continued. “By developing individuals to be their own economic engines, we begin to shrink the divides that are too numerous to name, but for starters we want to continue the momentum towards social justice by working to end economic inequalities, social isolation, educational deprivation, and political disenfranchisement.”

"As we focus on the Day of Enlightenment 5/25, let us remember that the entire world bared witness to the murder of Mr. George

Floyd,” said Sheriff Hubert A. Peterkin of Hoke County, NC. “Even though we will never see George again, his name lives on through the George Floyd Memorial Center with an emphasis on enterprising technology programs to ensure economic growth from town to town, rebuilding relationships between the community and law enforcement officers. Together, we can drive change throughout the country by turning a senseless act into an impactful one that will affect generations of Americans.”

The Center’s and the Floyd family’s hope is that change begins with this bold initiative - 5/25 D.O.E. - an annual celebration. As proclaimed by Thomas McLaurin, Executive Director of the George Floyd Memorial Center, “As with the death of Crispus Attucks in 1770, let us remember this day, 5/25 Day of Enlightenment, as the day the world stood up and proclaimed liberty, equality, and justice for all.”

A N G E L A B A S S E T T H E A D L I N E S V I R T U A L A P O L L O T H E AT E R S H O W Golden Globe®-winning and Academy Award®-nominated actress Angela Bassett will perform an original monologue based on her family’s personal experience with type 2 diabetes and heart disease during a free, virtual show she’s also hosting Harlem’s World-Famous Apollo Theater on Tuesday, May 25, 2021.

of Sarah Bryant and Anthony Wilson, two Know Diabetes by Heart national ambassadors now thriving with type 2 diabetes. In addition to three moving

theater performances, the event will feature entertainment by Howard University alumna Sage Chase, a jazz ensemble, dance and conversations around overcoming diabetes,

The event is produced and presented by Know Diabetes by Heart™, a joint initiative of the American Heart Association® and American Diabetes Association® that helps people with diabetes, their loved ones and the health professionals who care for them manage the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease, such as heart attacks, strokes and heart failure. Know Diabetes by Heart at the Theater from the Apollo begins at 8 p.m. EDT (7 p.m.

CDT). Advance registration is not required.

To save the date, download the discussion guide and watch the show on May 25, go to DiabetesTheater.org.

People living with type 2 diabetes are two times more likely to develop and die from cardiovascular disease than people who do not have diabetes. When compared to nonHispanic white people, non-Hispanic Black people are three times as likely to end up in the hospital for uncontrolled diabetes.

“We know our Black brothers and sisters too often face a higher burden of illness.

But we also know education, advocacy and structural change can make a difference. Whether you live with diabetes, love someone with diabetes or have lost someone to diabetes, heart disease or stroke, you’ll relate to something in this show,” Bassett said. “My hope is that everyone watching will have a good time and also decide to harness the individual power they have to improve their health and live these beautiful lives we have to the fullest.”

Know Diabetes by Heart is made possible with support from founding sponsors, the Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company Diabetes Alliance, and Novo Nordisk, and national sponsors, Sanofi, AstraZeneca and Bayer. Learn more at KnowDiabetesbyHeart.org.

Bassett, who serves as the celebrity ambassador for Know Diabetes by Heart in honor of her late mother, will host the first-ever Know Diabetes by Heart at the Theater event, which also includes monologues inspired by the turning points

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heart disease and stroke in our families and community.

May 20, 2021 - May 26, 2021

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BUSINE S S Finding BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES Just Got Easier!!!

The Black 411™ has relaunched in May of 2021 and they are signing up new businesses now. They also have new features and new pricing plans to meet all customer needs. The Black 411™ is a "Targeted Information Service" that allows consumers to use their smart phone to find

and Black Dollars Matter, The Black 411™ provides an easy and cost effective tool to help consumers search for the businesses. Black Enterprise magazine has dubbed them, "Like Google for Black businesses."

There are black entrepreneurs in every field and in every line of business. As the nation and corporate America struggles to add diversity to their marketing plans, The Black 411 makes finding black business easier and faster than ever before.

How does the service work? With The Black

Black Excellence Technology Group has done several upgrades to The Black 411™.

You now can receive reports on how many businesses were referred. You will also get contact information for future marketing initiatives. You also can pay per lead instead of signing up for an annual plan. These are all new features that allows businesses to be able to try The Black 411 and see how effective it is in helping their business to grow.

Photo Credit: Patrick Jonas via flickr

and locate black owned businesses instantly across the country. In the past black consumers could not easily find black owned businesses. We had to use time consuming cell phone apps, or online directories that we hoped were up to date, or that took too long to search through. That has caused a tremendous imbalance in how we spend the $1.5 Trillion we earn.

In this climate of Black Lives Matter,

411 you simply text or call and they do it all.

A user just simply texts the type of business, product, or service they are looking for to access number, along with the city or state you are looking in, and The Black 411™ will instantly (within 5 seconds) provide the listings of black owned businesses that can provide the product or service you are looking for. It is that Simple….Fast…. and Immediate.

The Black 411 has also upgraded their network and back office with new technology that will make it easy for registered users to get the listings and information they need quickly. Consumers can now search by asking for a type of business, but also by asking for a specific type of product or service that they need. Customers can be as specific or general as they want.

For example, lets say you need a washing machine in Dallas. You can simply text "Washing Machine in Dallas," and you will receive listing of businesses that sell Washing machines in Dallas. You can search for something as macro as a lawyer that specializes in tax law and The Black 411™ will provide a list of attorneys that specialize in those areas of law. The Black 411 will give you listings of Black owned businesses that meet your search criteria all over the US. The Black 411™ is currently free for consumers to use. Compare that cost to what you pay for traditional Directory Assistance. Currently consumers pay $1.40

to use directory assistance with Verizon, AT&T charges $1.49, and Sprint charges $1.99. Plus The Black 411 allows you to search by type of business you are looking for and it will give you targeted information.

With The Black 411™ a customer simply texts or calls the access number, tells The Black 411™ the type of business, product or service they are searching for, plus the city or state, and The Black 411™ does the rest.

Ashley Spear, Chief Marketing Officer said, "What makes the service great is that we help connect consumers and businesses at the point of sale and interest." Ashley continued, "The Black 411 will provide consumers a simple, fast and immediate tool to find a business when they are looking to purchase a specific product or service. Business owners will reach their potential customers when that consumer is looking to buy and asking for that type of business." The Black 411 will change the economic climate of this country. According to Nielsen's African American Consumer report, Blacks spend over $1.5 Trillion dollars each year and less than 3% of that goes to black owned businesses. The Black 411 will help to provide a more targeted way to spend those dollars with Black owned businesses. ABOUT BLACK EXCELLENCE TECHNOLOGY Group: BE Technology Groups is a Black owned technology company based in Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, and New York that is looking to help provide economic growth thru technology. The company was initially founded in 2006. For more information go to our website www.black411.net. You can also e-mail our sales department at sales@ black411.net.

H . J. R usse l l & C ompan y ’ s New W E B U ILD: T HE P O DCA S T Known for her role in running Concessions International LLC (CI) as the CEO, the Russell Family Foundation, and being on the Board of Directors and co-owner of H. J. Russell & Company, Donata Russell Ross shares intimate childhood memories that include swimming at the family home with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., along with how she’s managed the airport concessionaire business throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and the opportunities for women in the industry.

“When I first started in the industry a little over 35 years ago, it was highly dominated by males, but recently, I’d say over the past 10 years, I’ve seen more women in leadership roles,” said Russell Ross. “In fact, I see women having major food and beverage companies and running airport concession companies. I think very highly of the hospitality business as a great industry for women. It’s a really fun industry.”

Visit your favorite podcast app, like Apple Podcast or Spotify, to catch up on past episodes and to tune into future ones. Learn more from Donata Russell Ross, the CEO who listens to lead, about her life story, and hear her inspiring words for women, especially those considering the hospitality, food and beverage industry for a career.

H. J. Russell & Company (Russell), one of the largest Black family-owned construction services and real estate development companies in the United States, known

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for building iconic structures, debuted its company podcast, “We Build: The Podcast,” in April 2021. Hosted by Russell’s Director of Marketing, Lonoia Murphy and Paul Bryant, Vice President of External Affairs, the two help pull back the curtain to allow others access to the “how” and “why” of not just building structures, but also building communities, relationships, careers, and legacies in the industry with purpose.

We Build: The Podcast airs on Thursdays on various podcast platforms, including Apple Podcast, Spotify and Podbay.

Founded in 1952, H. J. Russell & Company is one of the largest minorityowned construction services and real estate development firms in the United States. A multi-faceted organization providing integrated solutions and an exceptional customer experience, Russell has developed, designed/built, renovated, and managed some of the nation’s most complex, high profile projects involving multiple stakeholders and requiring exceptional diplomacy and skill, including the Mercedes-Benz Stadium with the HHRM JV and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture with Clark Construction and Smoot Construction. Today, the company is at number 25 on the BE Top 100 list. Visit hjrussell.com to learn more about the firm.

May 20, 2021 - May 26, 2021

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END NO TE S

TALKING EDUCATION DURING THE PANDEMIC, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND THE RE-IMAGINED CLASSROOM WITH EDUCATION EXPERT DR. TAHIRA DUPREE CHASE

 BY ANN BROWN The pandemic has been challenging for all, especially those in the field of education. Dr. Tahira DuPree Chase, the Superintendent of Schools for New York’s Greenburgh Central School District has found a way to not only be a guiding force for the educators in her district but also as a nurturer to the students.

With students being forced to study from home and deal with the stressors of the pandemic it has been a difficult time for children. “All of this weighs heavily on children and if you don’t address these needs you will never be able to get these kids back on track,” she points out. But she notes that she has found her students to be resilient.

“Academically, the kids may have had some losses, but here’s what I know about kids after my almost 30 years with them,” she notes. “Kids will snap back. Kids will get back on track.”

There has been a positive side to what the pandemic has revealed in terms of how kids have been able to adapt. “Let’s talk about all the gains,” Dr. Chase says. “Kids have learned grit, resilience, flexibility, technical skills we probably haven’t even thought about. They’ve learned skills that will take them through life.” She continued, “In life, they will have to understand flexibility, they will have to understand grit and working hard, have resilience. These are things we cannot teach in textbooks. These are the things kids learn by experience.”

Dr. Chase stresses that kids have learned major survival skills during the pandemic.

“These kids are surviving a pandemic,” emphasizes Dr. Chase. “These survival skills will take them into adulthood in ways we cannot imagine. I could not be more proud of America’s children for showing resilience and perseverance, for thriving and surviving this pandemic. I am not going to discount the fact that kids are stressed. They are. This is a new environment for them.”

Dr. Chase has also seen kids reveal new interests. “I have more students who are now more interested in going into the area of social justice, after seeing what they have on television [in terms of injustices],” she says.

With over 25 years of experience as an educator, Dr. Chase has held various roles in education. But her favorite one she says is in the classroom.

“I will say the role that I have enjoyed the most was teaching. My best job was 13 years in the classroom. I say that because I am closest to the students. Teaching was amazing. even as a superintendent I find myself still going into the classroom and taking a second to teach,” Dr. Chase shares.

“I have to stay true to what’s happening in the classroom. As a superintendent, I would never ask my teachers to do something I don’t believe in or do something that I wouldn’t do myself. I consider myself to be an instructional leader, so even as a superintendent I like to stay involved in what children are learning and how teachers teach.”

As a teacher, she taught at both the elementary and secondary levels. Shortly after teaching at the secondary level, Dr. Chase became a teaching coach and then chaired the English Language Arts Department for several years. Then, for six years, she led the Curriculum and Instruction Department for the Mount Vernon City School District. During her tenure, she spearheaded numerous districtwide initiatives, including

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a full reading adoption, math adoption, curriculum mapping and assessment adoption.

Currently, Dr. Chase leads the Greenburgh Central School District in Hartsdale, New York as the Superintendent of Schools. Since arriving at Greenburgh Central School District in 2012 as an Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, Dr. Chase has launched several initiatives in an effort to enhance curriculum delivery, supervision of such delivery and provide learning opportunities for all students in preparation for 21st Century employment and/or college pursuits.

Her most noted initiatives, as Superintendent of Schools, include the implementation of the Professional Learning Communities as a districtwide model, installation of full-time Early Childhood Program for four-year olds, implementation of Mandarin Chinese as a World Language offering for students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 and the designation of an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

In addition to transforming Greenburgh Central School District into a World Class School District, Dr. Chase is an author, public speaker and consultant to Curriculum Associates, Pearson Education (Textbook Division) and McGraw-Hill Textbooks. She contributed her expertise as a consulting author to Pearson’s Common Core Edition reading program, “Reading Street” 2013 for kindergarten through grade six.

Currently, she is working with McGraw-Hill Textbooks Division to publish a national social studies textbook, “IMPACT,” which incorporates social-emotional learning.

According to Dr. Chase, McGraw-Hill is looking to expand the program they are building in Chicago to other cities.

“We’re working with Chicago public schools to build a social studies program. and that social studies program is focused on culturally responsive education ensuring that children see representation of themselves,” Dr. Chase explains. “My role is to embed social emotional support. How do we build this social emotional support with children?

We’ve been working on this program since before the pandemic but how appropriate now that we are coming out of the pandemic because children will need additional social emotional support.”

Dr. Chase has long focused on social emotional support in her own school district.

Social emotional learning is the process through which children acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, strive for positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, and establish and maintain positive relationships.

“As children come out of the pandemic, they will need additional social emotional support.

This is work we have been doing in my district for the last few years,” said Dr. Chase. “I serve a community that’s made up of mostly children of color, about 80 percent. And when I think about the Chicago school system, it’s a similar demographic. This work is done with keeping in mind that the people affected the most during this pandemic have been people of color. These children have watched their parents lose their jobs, they have watched their loved ones die. They have faced food insecurities, they saw inadequacies in healthcare. Children are watching these inadequacies–not to mention all the social injustices they are watching on television.

Our children are traumatized and they are

Photo courtesy of Dr. Chase

going through different levels of grief –not just because they’ve lost loved ones but also because the school environment that was safe and comfortable is no longer there.”

Dr. Chase holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications Arts from Norfolk State University. She also holds a Master of Arts in English Education and Master of Education with a specialization in School Administration and Supervision from City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center and Mercy College, New York, respectively. And, she earned a doctorate degree in Executive Leadership at St. John Fisher College.

During her tenure as an educator, Dr. Chase received numerous proclamations, citations and distinguished honors, including Top 25 Superintendents to Watch National Award, NAACP White Plains Chapter Image Award (Education Game Changer), Norfolk State University Distinguished Alumni Award, Educational Champion Award (WestCop, Inc.), Alpha Kappa Alpha, Incorporated HBCU Outstanding Educator Award, Delta Sigma Theta, Incorporated Stand on Her Shoulders Award, St. John Fisher College Scholarship Award, Distinguished Educator of Year, New York City District Nine Teacher of the Year, to name a few.

While Dr. Chase says she feels honored to receive awards, she looks beyond to reflect on what she has accomplished and how to move forward in her work. “Awards like the Image Award mean that someone has looked at the work I have done and they are demonstrating their appreciation for it. As educators, we don’t do the work because we’re looking for accolades. So when you get honored, it forces you to reflect,” she says.

Dr. Chase mentors several young women in obtaining their doctorate degree. She also mentors high school students in pursuing their academic and personal goals.

Dr. Chase has worked to bring more teachers of color into the system.

May 20, 2021 - May 26, 2021

“I really do believe that the education system needs to take into consideration how to attract and retain more teachers of color, period,” she says. “Do these teachers of color get tenure? Are we really retaining them?

There has been a lot of research that speaks to the positive aspects of having a teacher of color for all children, and not just children of color.”

She continued, “Teachers of color help children understand a lot about people of other races…We don’t have enough Black male teachers on all levels…We need more male teacher at the elementary level, that’s when the foundation starts. that’s when kids begin to build their mental models and it’s very important that they see representation at the early grades.”

Dr. Chase says she is looking forward to the upcoming school year. “I am looking forward to opening school fully…but it has to look different,” she notes. “We need to take a look at our curriculum, our policies to see that we do not have any concerns about equity.

Our school district, we’re in the process of an equity audit of our curriculum and our policies to make sure we are not leaving out any groups.”

After a year of remote learning, Dr. Chase says that educators have seen that kids excel using technology. And, she says schools should take advantage of this realization.

“I’d like to see a greater emphasis on implementing technology instruction for children,” she says, adding that other changes are on the horizon.

“I look forward to having a much stronger social emotional infrastructure,” concludes Dr. Chase. “We [the school system] have to look different in 2021 than when we closed our doors in 2020. The pandemic exposed all the concerns in public education so we have to look different. This is the opportunity to make change and re-imagine education.”

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